For the first time in almost two years, Australian borders will soon open to the rest of the world, allowing international tourists to visit the Whitsundays once again and provide much-needed relief to our ailing tourism industry.

On Monday Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement saying that following the soft opening of borders to countries such as New Zealand, Japan and Singapore, he feels confident Australia is ready to officially open international borders from Monday 21st February.

“If you are double vaccinated, we are looking forward to welcoming you back to Australia,” said Mr Morrison.

“I have no doubt that the tourism industry will be looking forward to this and over the next few weeks they will be gearing up to welcome international visitors back to Australia.”

Julie Telford, owner of Red Cat Adventures and one of the Directors of the Tourism Whitsundays board said that she was understandably thrilled that the borders were finally opening.

“It’s been a long time coming and it’s fantastic news for the hospitality and tourism industry,” she said.

“It’s the most exciting news we could have heard after such a tough start to the year – it’s given everyone a sense of relief – light at the end of the tunnel and a way forward for our region.”

International visitors to Queensland will not need to quarantine, they will simply need to take a Covid test within 24 hours of arriving and they must self-isolate until they receive a result.

RAT tests will be accepted.

A state-based arrival cap could be put in place and the Queensland Government is currently in discussion about how this will be implemented over the coming weeks.

According to Flight Centre the tourists most likely to enter the country in large quantities will be from the UK, USA, Canada and Europe.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces international borders will re-open from February 21 (image: ABC)

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The cold case that left police stumped for over a decade and resulted in two arrests in 2019 may finally be coming to an end next month when one of the alleged killers is expected to offer a guilty plea at the supreme court.

Jay Brogden was just 21 years old when he disappeared on the 21st of April 2007 and his body has never been found.

Shortly after his disappearance police announced a $250,000 reward for any information that led to the discovery of his remains, which prompted many people to come forward with information.

It did, however, take until 2019 for Gavin Parnell and Braddon Butler to be charged for his alleged murder.

The pair have since remained in custody on remand.

Both men were committed to stand trial at the supreme court following a committal hearing in June last year.

Then, last week, Mackay’s Supreme Court heard that Gavin Parnell is likely to plead guilty, with the matter listed for mention sometime in March.

At a hearing in 2019, the court heard from Parnell’s mother, Donna Balma, who said that her son had mentioned that he was involved with the alleged murder.

Parnell had asked her whether what he said to a counsellor would be admissible in court and then went on to detail a boat trip with Jay Brogden and another man.

During this trip he alleges the other man shot Mr Brogden and told him that he could either join him or help get rid of the body, so he helped push the body over the side of the boat.

This testimony asserts that Butler was not present on the boat, however, other witnesses say that he was.

One witness, who lived with Parnell for a short time, recounts a night when they had both consumed some home-brewed alcohol and Butler confessed to killing Mr Brogden with a shotgun and that it was Butler who pushed the body off the boat.

Another witness stepped forward saying that at her 21st birthday, Parnell confessed to the shooting.

Paul O’Brien also came forward, years after the event, saying he didn’t say anything at the time because he didn’t think Parnell was capable of it.

He remembers Parnell stating that Mr Brogden owed him money and confirming Butler was at the alleged shooting.

With many witnesses all confirming Parnell’s presence it looks like, more than 15 years after Jay Brogden’s disappearance, his family will finally get some closure and the killers finally brought to justice.

Jay Brogden went missing in 2007

$250,000 reward was offered for any information that led to the discover of his body

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While many local residents are throwing their empty plastic, aluminium or glass containers into their yellow bin, those savvy enough to earn a bit of money through their recycling efforts are taking them to a local Containers for Change Depot and receiving 10 cents for every eligible drink bottle.

Paddy Ward, Manager of Anything Environmental in Proserpine and Jubilee, said that this is an excellent way for local youth to make some pocket money while helping the environment along the way.

“We have one kid who brings bottles in, and he has made $12,000 over the last three or four years!” said Mr Ward.

“It’s a great way for kids to earn pocket money – they can make some serious dollars!”

The process is simple – purchase a drink, consume your beverage, wash it out, throw the lid in the bin and add the empty bottle to your collection, then head to your nearest depot and cash them in.

Residents can drop containers off 24 hours a day by setting up an account at containersforchange.com.au.

You can drop off your bottles any time of day and you will be issued with a scheme number in a Ziplock container. The items will be counted, and the money deposited straight into your bank account.

Processing up to 30,000 units per day at each site, Anything Environmental regularly service 50 walk-in customers a day and look after 40 business customers.

There are also 11 Community Drop and Go bin sites over the Mackay and Whitsunday regions.

Able to service a multitude of commercial clients from pubs to restaurants, hotels to boats, islands resorts and gyms – Anything Environmental offer a pick-up service from any local business.

“Just give us a call and we can come round, take a look at the site and ascertain the best way to approach it,” said Mr Ward.

Eligible Containers (Please place green tick here)

• Carbonated soft drink cans and bottles (under 3 litres)

• Beer, cider, ale cans and bottles (under 3 litres)

• Pre-mix spirits (under 3 litres)

• Fruit or vegetable juice (100% pure only no concentrates)

• Flavoured milk under 1 litre

Ineligible Containers (Please place red cross here)

• No milk bottles as they are categorised ‘farming’

• No wine bottles as they are categorised ‘farming’

• No spirit bottles as they are considered concentrate

Locations

Proserpine – 61 Hinschen Street

Jubilee Pocket – rear carpark of Jubilee Tavern

Bowen – 56 Gregory Street

Jonathon Whitehead, Luke Ronis, Trish Dermott and Paddy Ward

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Next week, it will have been six years since the tragic passing of Casey Stinson-Brown, a 19-year-old who suffered fatal head injuries after the bus he was on veered off the road and rolled on Shute Harbour Road near Brandy Creek when he was returning home from TAFE.

Ten others were taken to hospital, with four of those critically injured.

In the years since, Casey’s mother Nikki Brown has campaigned for improved safety regulations in the wake of the event on February 16, 2016.

The coronial inquiry of the events finished in March 2021 in Mackay magistrates court, with coroner John Aberdeen recommending the implementation of seatbelts by state government in the wake of the teenager’s death.

Ms Brown told the court that seatbelts could prevent other families from suffering the loss of a child like she has.

"No other family should be required to go through something as painful as this, for something so simple that is required in all motor cars, airplanes, coaches and taxis," Ms Brown said.

"My family will be forever broken."

The findings were presided over by Magistrate David O’Connell, who said, regardless of road conditions, that Casey’s was a preventable death.

"If Mr Brown had been restrained in his seat by a properly fitted seatbelt, he would have suffered far less injuries than he did, and certainly would not have suffered those non-survivable cranial fractures,” Magistrate O’Connell said.

He further recommended that the state government make it a requirement by December 1 of this year that all newly manufactured route buses must be fitted with a seatbelt for each passenger seat, and that existing buses be fitted over a 10- or 12-year time frame, or otherwise be retired from service.

"Overall, I am persuaded that seatbelts being fitted on route buses would reduce loss of life and the severity of injuries in bus crashes," he said.

The state government said they were reviewing the findings.

Ms Brown said they learned a lot in the inquiry, and that the review by the government gave her some hope that we would see seatbelts in the future.

“I hope Casey’s death isn’t in vain; that we haven’t lost him for nothing,” she said.

“It shouldn’t come down to money, because I sat there for three days listening to solicitors talking about how much it would cost but how do you put a price on someone’s life?”

A bus overturned in 2016, causing injuries to ten people, and the death of Casey Stinson-Brown

Casey Stinson-Brown tragically passed away at 19 after the bus he was returning home in overturned

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Local MP Implores State Government To Help Support Small Businesses

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP is standing up for small businesses by urgently requesting that Queensland receives access to the same Small Business Support Program that is provided by New South Wales and Victorian State Governments.

“The State government has done very little to support small business that other states have already implemented,” said Ms Camm.

“There is no plan and small and family businesses have followed all of the rules jumped through the hoops and the goal posts continue to shift.”

A Fair Go For Small Businesses

While small businesses receive ongoing support in other states, it seems that Queensland has been left behind and the local self-employed sector here in the Whitsundays is calling for help before it is too late.

“We have complied, we have followed all of the health directives, but with consumer confidence low, people are not wanting to venture out due to fear of becoming unwell,” said a local café owner.

“We are not asking for a handout we are asking for a hand-up in what is a challenging time - we need an end to this situation; the goal posts need to stop changing. People are exhausted from the constant changes and unknowns”.

In New South Wales the Government are currently offering a Small Business Support Program that entitles all eligible businesses to receive 20 per cent of their weekly payroll back as a lump sum for the month of February.

Meanwhile in Queensland, local businesses receive no such assistance from the state government and a well-known local business advisor said that this could spell the end for some of our region’s strongest surviving businesses.

“It’s very much a struggle at the moment,” he said.

“The stronger operators are now at a point where they’re coming to a cliff that they thought they would have been at when Job Keeper ended – many only have six months left on the runway and the government support is the only reason they’ve been able to survive so long.”

Having assisted many local operators, the business advisor said that he has multiple sources that will confirm this.

“The ladders have been pulled up and it’s danger time!”

The demographic most effected is the tourism operators that had previously relied on international tourists and were unable to pivot.

“A small business support package would 100 per cent be life changing for these businesses – it would mean they could keep going for six months before international travel returns,” he said.

“Amanda Camm is on the money – these small businesses are going to be sacrificed if a payment doesn’t come through.”

Having listened to the plight of several small businesses herself, Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP is now lobbying for the state government to provide an immediate small business support package, in line with the other states.

“Small businesses, particularly in tourism and hospitality are reporting declines of up to 70% in revenue and many have had to make the hard decision to lay off staff or close their doors,” she said.

“On behalf of small business hospitality, we are calling on the state govt to release the package to ensure they survive these challenging times.”

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP calls on state government to help small businesses

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The Sarina Arts and Crafts Centre is fighting back against COVID.

The centre is continuing to offer a wide range of home-made crafts to visitors and locals seven days a week in a COVID-safe environment.

Volunteers have the centre at the Sarina Field of Dreams parkland, adjacent to the Mackay Regional Information Centre, open seven days a week 9am to 1pm. The centre will close for public holidays.

“We are fortunate to have a strong group of volunteers who are sticking with us during this time,” centre manager Jennifer Costello said.

“COVID hasn’t stopped our crafters continuing to produce their works and we have a wide range of quality goods, all locally made.

“Like all businesses these days we require proof of vaccination from visitors but otherwise it is business as usual.”

By Charlie Payne

Tourists Steve and Amy Meehan with their children Maggie, Bonni and Alec at the Sarina Arts and Crafts in pre-mask mandate days last year. Maggie was hoping for booties for her doll Kelly, which she found. Photo: Charlie Payne

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Mandatory vaccination has struck workers jobless at regional mines this past week, with many Mackay locals now unemployed with the resource industry’s support of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.

Roy Ware was one such Mackay local who worked for BHP - the operators of nine mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin and the Hay Point coal terminal. Mr Ware worked for the mining giant for the last three years at their Peak Downs Mine as a permanent maintenance contractor until January 31.

The Peak Downs Mine introduced mandatory full-vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of entry to its Australian sites and offices from January 31, as did every other BHP operated mine.

“The science is clear that widespread vaccination saves lives,” BHP Minerals Australia President Edgar Basto said.

“We have undertaken a thorough assessment and believe that this is the right path forward to protect the health of our people, their families and the communities where we operate.”

Mr Ware, a husband and father to three children, was told that Thursday 27 January would be his last day and his site access would be revoked for failure to comply with the No Jab, No Entry requirements.

In peaceful compliance, Roy packed his bags, but also took to protesting outside Peak Downs the night of the vaccine mandates coming into effect.

He loaded a swag, camping gear and supplies into the ute, and made a “stand in peaceful protest for freedom and democracy” outside the facility.

Mr Ware said that, aside from himself, a few others lost their jobs but by this point many of the FIFO workers who were unvaccinated had been “weeded out.”

“One bloke was finishing up and he was on his way to the airport and had a yarn with me, as well as hung his shirt up to show his support,” Mr Ware said.

“Plenty of blokes came and saw me, it was a good little positive interaction there - four of my original crew have stopped because they didn’t get the jab.

“It’s a bit of a shame, I’m never late, never miss a day, and same goes for the other boys - the work we did was appreciated.”

Resources industry experts have said that the risk an unvaccinated employee presents, if they’re carrying COVID-19, is a catastrophic one which would lead to the closure of an entire mine site if an outbreak occurred, despite vaccinated people also being able to spread the virus.

Mr Ware said it should not be up to a company on what is a person-by-person choice.

“Big companies, I challenge them on their values of respect when they’re not valuing people’s choices to not get the jab,” he said.

Roy Ware is one of the Mackay workers who lost his job in the wake of vaccine mandates

Roy’s peaceful protest at the Peak Downs Mine

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Nominations are now open for the 2022 Inspiring Women in Isaac Awards, where men and women come together to celebrate the powerhouse females in our lives.

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said the awards were a chance to nominate women of all ages and from all walks of life who help make the region a better place to live, work and play.

“We see inspiring women around us every day, and, in recent times, we’ve seen strong women determined to help their community keep moving forward amid the ongoing global pandemic,” Mayor Baker said.

“This is our chance to celebrate the incredible strength of women in Isaac and the valuable contributions they make to our communities.

"We are calling on residents to shine a spotlight on the inspirational stories and community contributions of some of the Isaac's finest women and help us celebrate the pure people power which drives our region.”

Mayor Baker said there were two award categories to nominate for the Inspiring Woman in Isaac and the Inspiring Young Woman in Isaac.

“Nominees could be someone special in your family, workplace or community,” she said.

“We all know ordinary women who play an extraordinary role in our community.”

Nominees and winners would be recognised at International Women’s Day and Queensland Women’s Week events in communities across the region between Friday, 4 March 2022 to Sunday, 14 March 2022.

Nominations close on Wednesday, 16 February 2022 online at https://speakup.isaac.qld.gov.au/inspiring-women-in-isaac-awards or hardcopy forms are available from Isaac Regional Council offices and libraries.

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Disaster assistance is now available for Isaac Regional Council following the severe flooding event between November and December last year.

The assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the extension of disaster funding will help the flood-affected local council to cover the cost of their clean-up, repair and rebuild efforts.

“More than two months on and the effects of this wide-reaching weather event are continuing to be realised,” Ms Landry said.

“Isaac Regional Council can rest assured the costs associated with eligible counter disaster operations and the restoration of essential public assets will be covered.

“The DRFA funding will see vital repairs to the local road network take place over the coming months.”

Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au.

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With one of the seven wonders of the natural world in our backyard, tourism operators and local schools are partnering up to give the next generation of reef warriors educational experiences in Australia’s largest outdoor classroom.

Developed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, ‘Be a Marine Biologist for a Day’ is a program that offers high quality experiential learning excursions, designed to be delivered by tourism operators for students visiting the Great Barrier Reef.

The curriculum-linked program is a comprehensive suite of educational resources that delves well below the surface to provide an in-depth knowledge about the rich biodiversity of the reef and its marine life.

Assistant Director Reef Education Holly Lambert said they were excited to launch the suite of educational resources that give students and teachers a taste for what it is like to be a marine biologist on the Great Barrier Reef.

“We worked with teachers, master reef guides and high standard tourism operators to create curriculum aligned education products that enable students of all ages to learn about the Reef from the classroom to the coral,” Ms Lambert said.

“The project aims to increase students’ understanding of the Reef, inspire a love for citizen science and share knowledge with the next generation of Reef custodians,” she said.

The Queensland Government has also invested over $1 million in a 3-year program – Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program which sees $150 per student, paid directly to schools to go towards the cost of a school excursion which includes a reef experience.

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said it was vitally important to boost the next generation’s understanding of Queensland’s greatest living asset.

“The State Government’s Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program has helped more than 8,000 Queensland students get onto the Reef for the school excursion of a lifetime,” Ms Gilbert said.

“We’ve turned the Great Barrier Reef into Australia’s biggest outdoor classroom to deliver a unique, hands-on learning experience for students and new tour opportunities for reef operators.

Ms Gilbert added that since launching in mid-2021, the Great Barrier Reef Education Experience has delivered more than $5.6 million to regional Queensland’s visitor economy.

“It’s fabulous to see our city join the program’s school excursion destinations with the recent launch of Wild Cat’s Great Barrier Reef and island tours from Mackay.

“Last year, the State Government’s Growing Tourism Infrastructure Fund supported Wild Cat to get into the water with an investment of almost $1 million to add to Mackay’s many visitor experiences,” Ms Gilbert said.

Red Cat Adventures is a certified business operator in the reef program and schools in the Mackay region are now able to claim tours on Wildcat Mackay.

With years of experience in tourism and training, Wildcat Mackay aims to immerse students in an authentic natural classroom.

Red Cat Adventures Owner Julie Telford is excited for her Wildcat team to inspire and educate young minds about the world’s largest natural wonder.

"Learning can be fun and we are so lucky to have The Great Barrier Reef as our playground.

“We must teach the future generation and allow them the opportunity to develop a deeper connection with the reef through interactive and hands-on immersive learning experiences,” Ms Telford said.

One of the many advantages of the reef program is that it adds value to the Mackay region by increasing the level of education and awareness of the Great Barrier Reef.

Mackay Isaac Tourism Chief Executive Officer, Tas Webber said having an accessible education experience allows students to have a permanent platform to study the Reef’s ecosystems.

“When it comes to Reef education, inspiring our next generation of reef warriors is important.

“They are ones that will be protecting the Reef for our future generations,” Mr Webber said.

L-R: Mackay Isaac Tourism Chief Executive Officer, Tas Webber, Assistant Director Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Carolyn Roche and Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert with a Wildcat Master Reef Guide. Image supplied: Julieanne Gilbert

Wildcat is now offering educational excursions, as part of the State Government's reef education program. Photo credits: Leah McLean Photography

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More than $6,600 of grants has been awarded to deserving organisations and individuals, thanks to a new initiative from one of Mackay’s popular sporting clubs.

Magpies Sporting Club revealed the new Magpies Community Grants initiative in November last year, with the grants providing financial assistance of up to $30,000 annually.  

Grants will be awarded four times per year to winning applicants within three grant categories: Local Sporting Champions Grant, Time to Shine – Women in Sport Grant and Thriving Communities Grant.

Magpies Sporting Club General Manager, Darren Smith said “Sport and community has always been, and always will be, Magpies’ core charter.  

“Magpies Local Sporting Champions Grant and the Women in Sport Grant will help excelling sportsmen and women at a grassroots level to help fund their sporting endeavours,” Mr Smith said.

“The Thriving Communities Grant can provide up to $1,000 in financial assistance to organisations with a charitable purpose whose project, program or initiative will directly benefit the Mackay Community”.  

Three local sporting champions received $200 grants for their success at state level sporting events: Jaxon Maluga attended the U16 Boys State Championships for softball, Ethan Weiss represented Mackay in Mountain Biking at the Queensland Mountain Biking Championships and Sangwani Chinula played in the Queensland Rugby Union Junior State Championships.  

Thriving Community Grants of $1,000 each were awarded to six charitable causes.

Second quarter applications are now open, for more information on Magpies Community Grants including what grants are available, eligibility requirements and notable dates visit www.magpiesmackay.com.au/community to apply online.

In the last financial year Magpies Sporting Club contributed $902,256.22 to the Mackay community.

WINNERS

Thriving Communities Grant

Mackay Pet Rescue – Equipment purchase of soft crates for rescue animals - $1,000 Grant

Northern Australia Primary Health Network (Headspace) – Teen Mental Health First Aid Training $1,000 Grant

The Pioneer Community Pre-School and Kindergarten Association – Upgrades to outside Cubby House - $1,000 Grant

Mack PopCon – Towards 2022 Pop Culture Convention - $1,000 Grant

George Street Neighbourhood Centre (The Neighbourhood Hub) – Community Garden - $1,000 Grant

Mackay Hawks Softball – Protective equipment and player equipment - $1,000 Grant

Local Sporting Champions Grant

Jaxon Maluga – Under 16 Boys State Softball Championships - $200 Grant

Ethan Weiss – Queensland Mountain Bike Championships - $200 Grant

Sangwani Chinula – Queensland Rugby Union State Championships - $200 Grant

Sporting grant winners: Jaxon Maluga – Under 16 Boys State Softball Championships

Ethan Weiss – Queensland Mountain Biking Championships

Sangwani Chinula – Queensland Rugby Union State Championships

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After RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter’s self-described “horror week,” the crew of the invaluable service were treated to a precious and beautiful moment that served as the antithesis to seven days of loss and grief.

In coal-rich Collinsville, the pregnant Shantel was in need of some assistance when her soon-to-be born baby boy decided that he was done with the nine months wait and was ready to say hello to the world.

The RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter swooped to the scene, getting Shantel ready for an express flight down to the Mackay Base Hospital, when the eager bub said he wasn’t sure he wanted to shoot down to the Sugar City, and was eager to be born in Collinsville instead.

CQ Rescue’s crew got to work on the laborious task, helping Shantel deliver the bouncing little boy who, no doubt, will be sure to keep mum on her toes as he grows up.

“He was in quite a hurry today to meet our crew,” a RACQ CQ Rescue spokesperson said.

“His first flight was also a lot earlier than most.”

The little tyke was taken in the helicopter with mum, with the pair headed to Mackay Base Hospital at 3:00pm in what was a delivery of some “extra special cargo.”

The crew made sure that, to commemorate an exceptionally adventurous and spontaneous day, the little fella took home a friend – a blue and yellow plush helicopter plushie that the newborn, and mum, will surely cherish for a long time.

The rescue team mused that maybe the new Collinsville resident would be named Huey, just like the plush gift he received.

RACQ CQ Rescue not only saves lives, but helps them begin, and have been doing so for 25 years. The community-funded rescue helicopter is a lifeline to anyone and everyone, working across an area four times the size of Tasmania.

Every dollar the rescue helicopter receives keeps them in the air, and you can donate to CQ Rescue here at the link below.

100 per cent of your donation goes to help save lives across Central Queensland.

Donate here: https://bit.ly/34DpBcY

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Well, 2022 has well and truly started, and for the real estate industry it seems like the momentum hasn’t changed from what it was in 2021.

There has been speculation around this ‘uplift’ in the market being a sporadic event and that it won’t last this year and buyers should hold off making a purchase, waiting for a crash of sorts to affect our property market.

The best time to buy is when you are financially ready, as trying to predict the cycle of real estate can be a costly game.

We have met buyers who have been religiously out and about at open homes gauging the market for 18 months waiting for the market to potentially correct itself and feeling like they will have a win at that time. Unfortunately for those buyers, we now know that the Mackay real estate market has gone up on average anywhere between 7-15 per cent in most suburbs and given the actual median house price in Mackay is now $410,000 (source: Domain November 2021), waiting may have cost you some $30,000 - $50,000 for the same style property.

If this is to happen again this year and 'if' the market corrects itself down the track, you’ll inevitably still be paying more then, as opposed to buying now or perhaps when you first started looking. If it goes up 10 per cent and comes down 10 per cent you haven’t lost anything! Something to think about!

Our figures show that the energy in the property market has flowed over from last year and in fact we had 216 groups of buyers attend open homes and private inspections in the last seven days which is a number greater than the end of last year.  

For the sellers contemplating a move, there is a real evident shortage of quality properties for sale at the moment and there is a real push from buyers to know what we have coming to the market soon given people need a roof over their heads.

Interest from interstate and SEQ has grown tremendously with 20 per cent of our current contracts bought from these buyers and some sight unseen. In fact, four contracts last month were all cash buyers from interstate and ranged from $600,000 to $1 million.

No one will ever predict the real estate market anywhere, but there are no real signs of it slowing down due to low interest rates, the shortage of workers and upcoming employment opportunities in our region and the fact there simply isn’t enough property for sale for the demand we are currently having.

Enjoy the experience whether you’re buying or selling and don’t let the fear of doing either paralyse you.

If you need a hand don’t hesitate to call an Explore Agent today!

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He was an older bloke, in his late 60s, and after being through a divorce that left him with virtually nothing, he was living in a campervan with his two little dogs in the backyard of a mate’s place.

I met him at a private inspection at a property he was looking at on behalf of his sister, who was not in Mackay, and we got talking.

His name was John and he said that because he had a small deposit and was now on a pension and supplemented it with a bit of cash from lawn mowing jobs, the banks had told him he could only buy a property up to the value of $200,000. He said he had accepted he would be living in his campervan for the rest of his life.

I knew I didn’t have any houses for $200,000 but told him I had a little cottage that would probably sell for around $230,000. The market was lower then and, while on a big block and tidy inside, the house was on a busy road.

“You’re not far off but you’ll need to cobble together another 30 grand to get it,” I told him.

He rang back and we went to the property later that day and John loved it. He had spoken with his mate who was letting him park in the back yard and the mate, Brian, had offered to loan him $30,000 out of his super. “I’ll pay him back over the next few years out of my lawn mowing jobs,” John said.

It took a few weeks to get everything sorted but John bought the property. The day of settlement I dropped the keys around to John and joined him, Brian and the little dogs for a couple of beers in Brian’s backyard next to the campervan.

It was a celebration for us all for different reasons.

John was celebrating because life had delivered him an opportunity he wasn’t expecting. He had a tidy little house with space for his van and the dogs and the security of owning his own home.

Brian had the glow you get when you’ve been able to help out a mate, make a difference in his life.

The dogs hadn’t thought it all through but they felt the joy and were about to discover they were moving to a property with lots of adventurous walks nearby.

And I was celebrating because I’d connected with some good people and been able to do my little bit in helping someone change their life.

I dropped in and saw John the other day. He loves the house, loves his dogs and loves his life. I reckon he loves Brian as well but he probably wouldn’t put it that way.

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It was a horrific day with impacts still being felt throughout Isaac communities. This year on May 6 will mark two years since the underground explosion at Grosvenor Mine, where five miners were injured from the blast.  

The twin pressure waves caused by the methane explosion was described as being ‘like a cyclone’ by one miner, while another recalled the horror of being burnt, saying it was like being scorched by a blowtorch.

Moranbah’s emergency services rushed to the mine to treat the wounded; the emotional and physical scars from the mining mishap were felt deeply by both the miners and first responders. Some emergency workers reportedly left the mining town after the incident, saying they couldn’t continue in the industry.

More than 30 hospital staff from Moranbah Hospital were involved in the response and retrieval effort to save the five severely injured men who were in the immediate vicinity of the blast.

All survived, saying they owed their lives to an amazing team of first responders at the mine, ambulance officers, hospital staff, aeromedical retrieval staff and the RBWH Burns Unit.

In memory of the heroic actions of that day, a painting was hung in the waiting room at Moranbah Hospital last week, remembering a day that will never be forgotten.

The inscription reads, “To the staff at Moranbah Hospital. We are all so humbled and grateful for your services. Thank you so much. The Grosvenor Miners.”

A painting was hung in the waiting room at Moranbah Hospital last week, giving credit to the hospital staff who saved the lives of five men who were severely injured in the Grosvenor Mine explosion in 2020. Photo supplied: Mackay Health and Hospital Service

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